AARP Livability Fact Sheet: Sidewalks

Facebook Twitter

Sidewalks play a vital role in community life. As conduits for pedestrian movement and access, they enhance connectivity and promote walking. As public spaces, sidewalks are the front steps

to a community, activating streets both socially and economically.

Download the Sidewalks Fact Sheet:

It makes little sense that in so many neighborhoods, sidewalks are rare and even non-existent.

Among the benefits of sidewalks:

50-foot-wide residential property might cost a builder $2,000, but it can return 15 times that investment in resale value.In a scenario where two houses are nearly identical, the one with a

five-foot-wide sidewalk and two street trees not only sells for $4,000 to $34,000 more but it also sells in less time.Retail properties with a Walk Score ranking of 80 out of 100 were

valued 54 percent higher than properties with a Walk Score of 20 and had an increase in net operating income of 42 percent for more walkable properties.

While having a sidewalk is generally better than not having a sidewalk (provided the sidewalk in question is in good repair), certain types of sidewalks are better than others, and a

sidewalk's width is key. In busy downtown neighborhoods that have lots of people, destinations and potential conflicts with vehicles, sidewalks need to be wide enough to handle foot traffic

and community features such as cafe seating, benches and other spots for socializing.A width of at least eight to 12 feet is the typical recommendation for downtown settings while a five to

seven foot expanse is usually more than enough in a residential area.